Samuel t



(No Model.)

S. Y. TABB. CIGAR TIP CUTTER.

No, 599,879; Patented Mar. 1, 1898.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL Y. TABB, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CIGAR-TIP CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 599,879, dated March 1, 1898. Application filed February 15, 1897. Serial No. 623,568- (N'o model.)

Cigar-Tip Gutters, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to cigar-tip cutters and to pocket-knives provided with cigar-cutters, and has for-its object to provide an improved device of the kind mentioned con-.

venient to operate and simple and efficient in its construction.

The invention consists of the construction hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings formingpart of this specification, and in which likeletters of reference designate similar parts, I have shown several embodiments of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of 'a pocket-knife embodyingoneform of the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the knife shown in Fig. 1 with one'scale and cover of the handle removed. Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are fragmental side elevations of pocket-knives, with one scale and cover removed, in which various forms of my invention are shown.

The knife is generally constructed with the usual scales and covers to form 'a suitable frame or casing for the blades and is provided with a spring to act upon the blade or blades. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the spring A at one end operates upon a knife-blade a of the ordinary character, or, if desired, any simple implement adapted to be pivoted to a knifehandle or other similar or equivalent device may be operated by the spring instead of a knife-blade a. Near the other end of the handle or frame is an aperture B, adapted to receive the tip of a cigar. Near this aperture is a pivoted cigar-cutting blade arranged to sweep past the aperture B to cut off the cigartip. The cigar-cutting blades shown in all the figures have a 1 cutting 'edge which, as shown,is inclined to the radii of the aperture. This enables the user to cut off the tip of the cigar with much less pressure upon the blade than ifthe blade had a straight edge cutting the cigar in a direction at a right angle to the axis of the aperture B. Theseblades, as shown, all have their edges inclined'upward from their outer ends toward their axes. The

cigar-cutting blades, which are lettered O C O C (l 0 C, respectively, have important features in common, but differ in certain respects, as will be pointed out.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 7 the blades are pivoted eccentrically and the frame in each of these figures is provided with a recess .9 at its end, whereby inward pressure may be exerted upon the exposed end of the blade to force it open against the spring which holds it closed in the frame.

In Figs. 4, 6, and 8 the blades have short projections h, whereby they may .be opened by means of the thumb or finger nail.

In Fig. 5 the blade has a nail-slit k, by which it may be opened.

All the blades have heads 0, provided with bearing faces or points, against whioh'the'ir springs bear to hold them closed or opened.

In Figs. 2, 4, and 5 the blades have bearingfaces, d, against which the springs bear to hold the blades closed, the springs lying fiush against the bearing-faces and these faces terminating at the point (1 at the left, as shown, of the pivots of the blades when the blades are closed. In opening these blades 0 O 0 pressure must be exerted till the points d have'just passed below the pivotal points, when the springs snap the blades open, as shown in dotted lines, till the bearing-faces 8 come against the springs, which by their pressure upon these faces e hold the blades open in cutting position. At this time the points 6 of the faces 6 are at the left of the pivotal points and prevent the springs from opening the blades farther than they are shown in dotted lines; but, if desired,.these blades could be opened farther by hand, thereby entirely exposing the cutting edges and enabling them to be sharpened, It will be seen, however, that the springs by bearing, upon the faces 2 serve to limit the movement of these blades 0 C G into open position.

In Fig. 3 the head 0 of the blade 0 has the bearing-face cl; but instead of the bearing-face c it has a bearing-face f, against which the spring A bears whenthe blade is open. In this case the rigid stop passing through the scales servesto arrest the blade when it has reachedits cutting position. 7

In Fig. 6 theblade O has the bearing-faces d and e, and the bearing-face ehas a rigid stop 6 adapted, when the blade is opened, to strike against the end of the spring A to limit the movement of the blade.

In Fig. 7 the spring A has an inclined face m, bearing upward against the bearing face or point a of the blade when the blade is closed and in a direction to the left, as shown, of the pivot. The spring by this arrangement operates to hold the blade closed. \Vhen pressure is exerted against the head of the blade at the recess, the bearing face or point a is forced round till it passes below and to the right of the pivot, when the blade springs open and the spring bears against the bearing face 6. The blade is arrested in this movement by the stop 6 on the blade striking against the end of the spring.

In Fig. 8 the spring A has a projection 0, bearing upward against the face 1) of the blade and, as shown, in a line passing to the of the blade.

left of and above the pivot when the blade is elosed. Vhen the blade is lifted by the projection 7a, the blade turns so as to present the face 1) to the projection 0 of the spring, and as soon as this happens the blade is sprung open to the intermediate position shown in dotted lines. By again slightly lifting the blade it will be sprung open to the uppermost position shown in dotted lines, the spring at this time bearin g against the bearing-face 19 Thus the spring serves to throw the blade into open position and to limit the movement of the blade into this position.

The cigar-cutting blades, as shown in all the figures,are completely housed within their frames, with their cutting edges below the aperture B when in closed position. Vhen in open position ready to out the cigar-tip, the cutting edges are still housed within the frames above the aperture B.

In the best form of the invention and as herein shown the cigar-tip cutter is embodied in and forms part of a pocket-knife. I do not, however, wish to be limited to this arrangement, as the cigar-tip cutter could be embodied separate and distinct from a pocket-knife and attain many of the advantages of my invention. Various other changes, such as will suggest themselves to any one skilled in the art, may be made without departing from my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cigar-cutter, the combination with a suitable frame provided with an aperture to receive a cigar-tip, of a cigar-cutting blade pivoted in the frame and having two bearing faces or points for a spring, and a spring bearing upon the said points or faces of the blade in turn, and operating to hold the blade closed and to throw it into open position when the blade in opening has passed beyond a predetermined position, the blade having its edge within the frame when it is in open position and when it is in closed position, substantially as set forth.

2. In a cigar-cutter, the combination with a suitable frame provided with an aperture to receive a cigar-tip, of a cigar-cutting blade pivoted in the frame and having its edge inclined obliquely to the radii of the aperture when in cutting position, the blade having two bearing points or faces for a spring, and a spring bearing upon the said points or faces in turn and operating to hold the blade closed and to throw the blade into open position when the blade in opening has passed beyond a predetermined position, the blade having its edge within the frame both when the blade is in open position and when it is in closed position, substantially as set forth.

3. In a cigar-cutter, the combination with a suitable frame having an aperture to receive the tip of a cigar, of a cigar-cutting blade pivoted in the frame and having two bearing faces or points for a spring, a spring arranged to bear upon one or the other of these faces or points and hold the blade open with its cutting edge above the aperture and within the frame, or closed with its cutting edge below the aperture, the spring operating to throw the blade into open position after the blade in opening has passed beyond a predetermined position, the spring serving as a stop to limit the movement of the blade into open position, substantially as set forth.

4. In a cigar-cutter, the combination with a suitable frame having an aperture to receive the tip of a cigar, of a cigar-cutting blade pivoted in the frame and provided with a cutting edge inclined to the radii of the aperture, the blade having two bearing faces or points for a spring, a spring arranged to bear upon one or the other of these faces or points and hold the blade open with its cutting edge above the aperture and within the frame, or closed with its cutting edge below the aperture, the spring operating to throw the blade into open position after the blade in opening has passed beyond a predetermined position, the spring serving as a stop to limit the movement of the blade into open position, substantially as set forth.

5. In a cigar-cutter, the combination with a suitable frame provided with an aperture to receive a cigar-tip, of a cigar-cutting blade pivoted in the frame and having two bearing points or faces, a spring bearing upon said points or faces of the blade and operating to hold it closed and to throw it into open position when the blade in opening has passed beyond a predetermined position, the blade being closed when its edge is below the said aperture and open when it is above the aperture,and an unyielding stop to arrest the blade when its edge has passed above the aperture and before it has passed the outer edge of the frame, substantially as set forth.

6. In a cigar-cutter, the combination with a suitable frame provided with an aperture to receive a cigar-tip, of a spring-pressed cigarcutting blade pivoted in the frame, the frame being provided with a recess whereby inward both when it is in open and closed pressure may be put upon the blade to open it, the blade having its edge within the frame position, substantially as set forth.

7. In a cigar-cutter, the combination with a suitable frame provided with anaperture to receive a cigar-tip, of a spring-pressed cigarcutting blade pivoted in the frame, the frame being provided with a recess whereby inward pressure may be put upon the blade to open it, and an unyielding stop to arrest the blade when it has reached its open position, the blade having its edge within the frame both when it is in open and closed position, substantially as set forth.

8. In a pocket-knife, the combination with the handle having a pivoted knife-blade or other device at one end, and provided with an aperture near its other end to receive a cigartip, of a cigar-cutting blade pivoted in the handle so as to sweep past the aperture, and an opening and closing spring secured in the handle and hearing at one end upon the cigarcutting knife-blade and holding said blade normally closed, and bearing at its other endupon the said knife-blade or other device, the cigar-cutting blade having two bearing faces or points upon which the spring bears alternately and operates upon the blade to hold it closed with its cutting edge below the aperture, and to throw it into open position with its edge above the aperture and within the frame, when the blade in opening has passed beyond a predetermined position, substantially as set forth.

9. In a pocket-knife, the combination with a handle provided near one end with an aperture to receive a tip of a cigar, of a cigar-cutting blade pivoted in the handle so as to sweep past the aperture and having two bearing points or faces, and an opening and closing spring bearing upon said points or faces of the blade and operating upon the blade so as to hold it closed with its edge below the aperture and open with its edge above the aperture, and means to arrest the blade when its edge has reached its open position, substantially as set forth.

10. In a cigar-cutter, the combination with a suitable frame having an aperture to receive the tip of a cigar, of a cigar-cutting blade pivoted in the frame and having two bearing faces 7 or points for a spring, a spring arranged to bear upon one or the other of these faces or points and hold the blade open with its edge above'the aperture and within the frame or closed with its edge below the aperture when the blade in opening has passed beyond a predetermin ed p'osition,the frame being provided with a recess in the end next the pivot of the blade whereby pressure may be put upon the blade to throw the blade beyond the predetermined positiou required for opening it, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' SAMUEL Y. TABB.

Witnesses:

NionoLAs- M. GOODLETT, 

